Contrary to a popular media stereotype, a national survey found Americans view Generation Y as being the most "self-indulgent" while baby boomers are viewed as the generation with the most positive effect on society.

Boomers ranked highest in having a positive effect on the US society (Source: Harris)

The just-released survey. conducted in the spring by Harris Interactive, asked 3,868 Americans, aged 21 to 83, about their perceptions for each generation. Of those, 35 percent ranked the boomers as having a positive effect, followed by Gen X at 25 percent. 

More than half - 53 percent, including a majority of Gen Y itself - thought Generation Y was the "most self-indulgent," followed by Gen X at 25 percent.

Forty-one percent thought Gen X was the most innovative, followed by boomers at 25 percent and Gen Y at 22 percent.

Boomers also led as the "most socially conscious" group with 34 percent, followed by Gen X at 26 percent.

Boomers were the only generation that liked the name given to them. Gen X would like to be known by Generation Tech, and Gen Y prefers the name "Internet Generation," the survey found.

Admirable
The "most admired" age groups were the oldest population segments, the so-called silent generation with 33 percent and the greatest generation at 30 percent. Boomers came in third with 22 percent. Those polled thought the "most generous" people were the silent generation at 40 percent and the boomers at 33 percent.

"These findings show that two widely-held views are false," the firm reported. "One is that America is riddled with ageism and that younger people have no respect for older people. While there is surely some prejudice against older people which sometimes leads to age discrimination, the two oldest generations - the Silent and the Greatest Generations - are much more admired than any other generation."

The poll also found that "most people do not see [older Americans] as a burden to younger generations," even though they receive tax-supported benefits through Medicare and Social Security.

"Another common belief, shown to be false in this survey, is that baby boomers are widely seen as particularly self-indulgent or even greedy," the survey firm said. "In reality, boomers get higher marks than other generations for being socially conscious, productive and having a positive effect on society."